Project Proposal

As both a street artist and fine art photographer, Justin has been spreading the message of dream in his work for the past five years in New York City. To Justin this is a universal message that unites people from diverse backgrounds with the understanding that their dreams can be achieved. That is why Justin is proposing a series of large scale photography portraits that unite people who self-identify as dreamers in five cities around the world. Justin will bring together artists, fashion designers, filmmakers, writers, musicians in street portraits that will also be social and community events bringing people from all different backgrounds together in a common experience.

Justin will be traveling to each of these five cities with a small crew to gather and execute these shoots. He will then host an event where he will present the five life size portraits and invite back all of the participants, and anyone else wishing to be take part.  At the event, everyone will be invited to give further life to the prints by interacting with them using materials like paint and markers. In the end, the prints will act as alternative historical records for public celebrations all over the world where people declared in unison: We dream.

About the Artist

Justin Tellian was born in Visalia, California in 1978. His grandfather, also a photographer, inspired him to pursue photography at a young age. In high school, he became a photo-journalist for the regional daily paper and then attended the Brooks Institute of Photography. He moved to New York in 2002 and worked under photographers Mark Seliger and Steven Klein. Since 2006, he has pursued his career independently as a fine art photographer inspired by street art.

www.famegame.com/profile/Justin_Tellian

Artists Past Work

The Dreamers, 2008
Justin shot the first DREAM group photo portrait in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in June 2008. His vision for these shoots are a mixture of celebration and mise en scene, which this video captures. Justin Tellian's team for this shoot: Stowe Richard, Matt Mimiaga, Nathan Catucci, Jaime Rosenthal, and Jessica Bobince. The Dreamers: Mary Cuddehe, Peter Baltra, Blake Whitman, Ryan Brown, Seth Aylmer, Jose Serrano-Reyes, Nick Bean, Ara Edsinger, Craig Edsinger, Solomon Chase, Paul Read, Anthony Donofrio, Wendell Davis, Cameron Dary, Ewa Pawlus, Matthew Craven, Lark Kidd, Drew Hinckley, Cowaney Malick, David Toro, Emily Bybwad, Kristin Lorenz, Mary Manwary, Kat Hunt, Irene Pann, Ina Jang, Joan Tom, Marnin Schwartz-Lachase, Tracy Bradbury, Tina Keyes, Gerian Marlel, Jennifer Bickman, Brett Dobbs, Colleen Haley, and Christopher Beehwith.

Dream Station, 2007
Performed in Union Square, New York City, the station allowed dreamers to write their dreams on a piece of paper, attach them to a helium balloon, and watch them float away.

1B, 2006-2008
Justin had an open-door policy in his apartment for over 2 years, inviting both friends and strangers into his space.

Live/Work, 2008
A series of photographic portraits of artists in their "live/work" spaces in Brooklyn.

Public Wall